Hidden Gems: Meet Taylor Wiesner of We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym Dallas

Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Wiesner.

Hi Taylor, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey into this field started during college at Texas A&M, when I began babysitting for a family with a teenager with autism. I quickly fell in love with working with him. I had the opportunity to observe his ABA therapist during sessions, and it opened my eyes to the incredible impact that evidence-based therapy could have on a child’s independence, communication, and quality of life. That experience ultimately shaped my career path. I went on to graduate school to study low-incidence disabilities with a focus on autism and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

In 2015, I moved to Dallas and started my own in-home ABA company. I have always loved the in-home model because it allows us to teach children skills in the environment where they live and function every day. ABA therapy focuses on the core areas impacted by autism: behavior, communication, and social skills. We help children learn how to communicate their wants and needs, navigate daily routines, and engage more meaningfully with the people around them. Being in the home allows those skills to be taught naturally and to generalize more easily into everyday life.

While I loved in-home ABA, I began to notice a gap when it came to social skills. There are only so many times you can convince a sibling to play Chutes and Ladders or hide-and-seek during a therapy session. Many of our clients’ social goals required interaction with novel peers in a natural setting, and it was difficult to recreate that environment inside the home. I started searching for a solution and discovered We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym, a sensory-inclusive gym franchise based in California. I immediately saw the potential. It was exactly what our community needed.

We opened the first We Rock the Spectrum gym in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, located in Dallas at Forest and Marsh. The vision was multifaceted. First, it gave my ABA clients a place to interact with new peers while also meeting their sensory needs. Second, it created a space where all children, regardless of ability, could play together and learn from each other. Kids speak the universal language of play, and when given the opportunity, they naturally build empathy, understanding, and connection.

Opening the gym also deeply impacted my own family. I have four children—now ages 10, 8, 5, and 4 months—and my oldest was just four years old when we opened our first location. All of my children have grown up in the gym. They have learned from an early age that differences are normal and that inclusion is part of everyday life.

The equipment in the gym is intentionally designed to support development while feeling like pure fun. Children are swinging, climbing, ziplining, and painting, but they are also building strength, coordination, confidence, communication, and social skills. We have sensory swings, two ziplines, climbing domes, a climbing wall, an art room with a paint wall, a toddler area for our youngest crawlers, and a sensory room where children can take a break when they feel overwhelmed. We also host birthday parties, camps, and open play for children of all ages and abilities.

As the need grew, we expanded and opened additional locations in Houston Memorial and Plano. In 2021, we opened a small ABA clinic next door to our Dallas gym. This allowed us to create a seamless model where children can move between structured therapy and natural play. They can learn a skill in therapy and immediately practice it in a real-world, social environment.

Building these businesses has not always been easy, but it has been incredibly meaningful. Everything we’ve created has been centered around helping children reach their fullest potential while also supporting families and building a more inclusive community. It’s been amazing to watch our clients grow—not just in their skills, but in their confidence and independence—and to see all children learn, connect, and thrive together.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not always been a smooth road. One of our biggest challenges came right after we opened our first gym in January 2020. Just a couple of months later, everything shut down due to COVID-19. Like everyone else, we initially closed completely while we tried to understand what was happening and how to move forward. It was incredibly difficult because we had just opened our doors and were so excited to serve families.

Very quickly, we began hearing from parents who were struggling. Their children had lost access to school, therapy, routines, and outlets for movement and sensory input. We realized how essential safe play and movement were, especially for children with sensory needs, but also for all young children. Kids develop critical skills through play. In the gym, they are building motor skills, coordination, strength, confidence, communication, and social interaction. They are learning how to wait, take turns, regulate their bodies, and engage with others.

We had to completely rework our model almost overnight. Instead of open play, we shifted to private rentals so families could have the entire space to themselves. We built in extra time between every rental to thoroughly clean and sanitize all equipment. As guidelines evolved, we slowly and thoughtfully reopened while prioritizing safety. It required constant flexibility, creativity, and problem solving during a time when there was so much uncertainty.

Another ongoing challenge is continuing to evolve and grow in a space where new children’s play places are always opening. Families have many options, and we are always working to make sure we are providing something truly meaningful and valuable. For us, that means maintaining extremely high standards for cleanliness, investing in equipment that supports development, hiring and training staff who genuinely care about children, and creating an environment where every family feels welcome and supported.

We have learned that staying relevant is not about competing, but about staying true to our mission. Our focus has always been on creating a space where children of all abilities can play, develop, and feel accepted. Families recognize that authenticity, and it is what has allowed us to continue growing even through challenging seasons.

As you know, we’re big fans of We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym Dallas. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We Rock the Spectrum Dallas and Plano is a sensory-inclusive children’s gym designed for kids of all ages and abilities. While we specialize in supporting children with sensory processing needs and autism, the gym is truly for all children. What makes it so special is that children with special needs and typically developing children are playing side by side, naturally learning from one another. It creates an environment where inclusion is not taught, it is simply part of the experience. Children are building strength, coordination, confidence, communication, and social skills, all while thinking they are just having fun.

We are locally owned and deeply rooted in our community. I am a mom of four young children, and my family lives just five minutes from the gym. My kids go to school nearby and have grown up in the gym themselves. This is not just a business to us, it is part of our daily life and our community. Because of that, we are always listening to families, adapting, and making improvements based on their needs. We want every family who walks through our doors to feel welcomed, supported, and understood.

We offer a variety of ways for families to enjoy the gym. Families can book open play sessions, sign up for memberships for regular visits, host birthday parties, or enroll in camps throughout the year. Everything can be easily booked online, making it simple and convenient for busy parents. Our gyms are designed to support both free play and purposeful development, with sensory swings, ziplines, climbing structures, an art room, toddler areas, and quiet sensory spaces.

What sets us apart is our intentional focus on inclusion and development. Our background in ABA and child development influences everything from our equipment selection to the environment we create. We are proud to offer a space where children can grow, families can connect, and every child feels like they belong.

Families can learn more, book open play, memberships, parties, or camps at
www.werockthespectrumdallas.com
www.werockthespectrumplano.com

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
There are so many people who deserve credit for helping shape both my career and our business.

First and foremost, my husband, Joseph, has been my biggest cheerleader since day one. He has supported every step, every risk, and every new idea, even when it meant long hours and uncertainty. His belief in the mission behind what we are building has made all the difference. My sister and brother in law, Chelsea and Nick Deitering, also deserve tremendous credit. We own and operate the gyms together, and their partnership, dedication, and shared vision have been instrumental in growing and sustaining what we’ve built. It truly is a family effort, and my parents have also been incredible supporters, always cheering us on and stepping in whenever we needed extra hands.

My children have also been one of my greatest sources of motivation. Watching them grow up in this environment has strengthened my commitment to creating a space where all children feel welcomed, accepted, and included. They have inspired me to continue fighting for a world where every child, regardless of ability, has a place to play, connect, and belong.

I also owe so much to the clients who shaped my path early on. Christopher Orsi was one of the first children with autism I worked with while I was in College Station. He and his family had a profound impact on me and inspired me to pursue this field professionally. Working with him showed me how meaningful this work could be and ultimately led me to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

Later, when I was practicing in Dallas, one of my clients, Isabella Cofield, had a similar impact in a different way. I remember spending countless hours researching every possible sensory friendly activity, play space, or inclusive event in Dallas so she could have opportunities to practice social skills and simply be a kid in her community. It was incredibly difficult to find consistent, welcoming environments. That experience was a turning point for me. It made me realize that families needed a space like this, and it directly inspired me to open the gym.

I am incredibly grateful for the families we serve every day. They trust us with their children, share their journeys with us, and continue to support and believe in what we are building. Our staff plays a huge role as well. They show up every day with compassion, patience, and genuine care for the children and families. This has never been something built alone. It has always been shaped by the people, families, and community around us.

Pricing:

• Unlimited Monthly Memberships: $70/1 child, $95/2 children, $135/3+ children
• Open Play: $14/1st child & $12/siblings
• Parties: $400-$925

Contact Info:

• Website: https://werockthespectrumdallas.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WRTSDallas/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRTSDallas
• Other: https://www.werockthespectrumplano.com

Image Credits
Savannah Darver Photography